Carrier apparatus



Jmm- 5, 1923.

' C. L. RILEY CARRIER APPARATUS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed March a Q @INVENTOR v c. w

A7 ATTORNEY June 5,1923. msww C. L. RILEY CARRIER APPARATUS Filed March 3. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR AITTORNEY Patented June 5, l923.

UNHTEB STATEg l,d?,%t

PATENT FFHCE.

OHAMPLAIN L. RILEY, OENOR'IH PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO CLARK, MACMULLEN & RILEY, ING, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CARRIER APPARATUS.

Application filed March 3, 1922.

1 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that l, CHAMPLAIN L. RILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in North Plainfield, Somerset County, New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Carrier Apparatus, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification.

My invention relates to carrier apparatus or machinery, and more particularly to such apparatus used in laundries. The objects of my invention are toincrease the output of the laundry or machinery with which my invention is associated or co-operates, to eliminate interruptions and delays in the work of the machinery and its operatives, to reduce manual labor and to expedite and facilitate the handling and transporting of the goods. The manner and means for accomplishing the foregoing and other objects and advantages of my invention will appear more in detail in the following:

The present embodiment of my invention is an apparatus particularly designed to carry the work or goods from the shakers or folders to the feeders of the ironing machines. According to present laundry practice the washed goods, preparatory to ironing, are carefully shaken out, folded if necessary andsmoothly and evenly arranged by experienced. operatives on boards or rails in such condition and arrangement that the goods may be smoothly and evenly fed to the ironing machines. These latter machines are costly, not only as installations but in op eration, since they consume considerable power in exerting the pressure and friction necessary in ironing, and also considerable heat to maintain the ironing temperature. Being of considerable width they also require a crew of a number of feeder operatives, who stand along the width of the machine, to keep them supplied with work to their capacity. Any interruption or delay in the steady supply of work to these machines and their operatives entails therefore, considerable loss.

According. to present practice, the boards or rails (which are of a length approximately equal to the width of the ironing machine), having been loaded with goods ready for ironing, are manually carried to position in front of the ironing machine feeders and between them and the machine. This, as will be apparent, requires that the Serial No. 540,811.

feeding of the ironing machine must be interrupted, since all the feeders must stop feeding and move away from their machine to allow the empty board or rail to be removed and a loaded board or rail moved into its place. In many cases also the shaker or spreader crew must also similarly cease work to allow of the board or rail they have just loaded being removed from its loading position to its position at the ironer and an empty board or rail moved to position for loading. Furthermore, owing to the length of the boards and their weight when loaded, especially with dampened goods, at least two operators are required to move the boards or rails from one position to the other. My invention is devised to overcom these ob- JGClJiOIlS and to permit of a practicaly continuous operation of the ironing machines and to move the boards or rails from one position to the other without manual labor and without requiring the ironer feeding crew or the spreading and loading crew to .move out of their working positions during the substitution of loaded for empty boards or rails or vice versa.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention, it being understood that the invention is not limited to the specific form shown.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the apparatus;

Figure 2 represents a sectional elevation on a plane transverse to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the means for controlling the operation of the apparatus.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawing the carrier or delivery device proper comprises a pair of rotary members or wheels, 1, 1, spaced apart one from the other a distance corresponding to the width of the ironing or other machine to which the work is to be delivered. Wheels 1, 1, are mounted in axial alinement, each on a bearing or stub axle 2, 2, respectively, supported in standards or pedestals 3, 3, that are bolted or otherwise secured to the floor 5, of the work room. Between said standards an opening is provided in the floor to form a space or pit 4 to accommodate the lower portions of the wheels and the work carried thereby. Qver said opening or space l. and approximately on a level therewith. a platform 6, is supported in such relation llt) that it constitutes the working or feeding position for the feeders or similar operators of the ironingor other machine, indicated at 7. Said platform 6 is supported between the wheels or carrier-members 1, 1, by means of struts or hangers 8, 8, suspended on the squared ends of the shafts or axles 2, 2 as longitudinal boards or rails, such as em,

ployed in laundries for holding the work prepared for feeding to the ironing machines. In my apparatus such work supports are of a-length to extend from one of the wheels or carrier members 1, to the other and thus correspond in length also to the lengthof the feed-board 1520f the lroning machine. These work-supports 11 have se cured to their ends brackets or hangers 13, formed at their upper ends as hooks 1 1 for taking-over or engaging with the studs 10 of wheels 1, 1, which thus form pivotal supports at each end of the work-supports In mately the,.,apparatus shown, I have arranged these supporting studs 10 at intervals of approxi apart around-the rim of wheels" 1, 1, thus maklng provision for six worksupports 11 to be carried by the wheels. The arrangement is such that when one of the work-supports 11 is at the feeding position," or feed board 12 of the ironing machine, another work-support, on the opposite side of the wheels will be in convenient position for loading or for placing on the studs 10. Also other work-supports that have previously been loaded'with work and placed on the wheels are ready to move successively into the feeding position at the ironing machine when the wheels are rotated.

Any convenient means may be provided for rotating the carrier members or wheels 1, 1. In the apparatus shown I have provided electric motors 15 for this purpose, one for each wheel, and mounted on platform 6, preferably on the side thereof opposite that occupied by the feeders orironing machine operators. The weight of the motors in this position tends to counterbalance that of the feeders and thus equalizes or distributes the load on said platform and its supports. The motor pulleys are connected by any suitable form of power transmission, such as'belts or chains, to pulleys or sprockets 16, 16, on the hubs of the wheels 1, 1. The motorsare of the same size and design and being energized from the same source of current run at the same speed. Other means for driving the wheels 1, 1, synchronously or in unison may be provided, as, for example, by belting the pulleys or sprockets 16, 16, to a common power shaft. It will be understood that the CiLII'lGf-IHQHlbGIS or wheels are rotated intermittently, their rotation being arrested duringthe time a work-support 11 is at the feed board 12 and its load of work is being fed to the ironing orvother machines 7. For this purpose Ihave provided a combined detent and motor-control mechanism comprising stops 1'? arranged 'at suitable intervals aroundthe rims of the wheels 1.7 Co-operating with and in the path of said steps is a spring pressedlatch 18, pivotally mounted on abracket secured to platform Said latch is in the form of a bell-crank its rearward extension 19 forming a foot-lever for operating said: latch.- Arranged below the foot-lever 1.9 and 1n its path of movement is a switch 20'controlling both motors, in the manner hereafter described. It will be un-,

derstood that the latch 18 and stops 17 are duplicated for each of the wheels 1. 1.- The arrangement of the parts described is such that both wheels 1, 1, are held in stationary position by the latches or detents 18' and that the motor switch is open in this position, no power being consumed whilethe work supports 11 are at the feeding position and being unloaded and the work fed to the ironing machine When it is desired torotate the wheels 1, 1, to bring the next loaded work-support 11' to the feedingposition, the

operator presses the foot-lever 19, thereby releasing latches 18 and in the same move- 'ment of the foot-lever closing the motor switch, whereupon the motors are energized androtate wheels 1, 1, until they are again arrested by the stops 17 next in succession engaging the latches 18, whereupon the footlever being released, the motor switch is opened and the current shutoff from the motors." i r In order to give head clearance to the operators on platform 6 at the work or feed position of the ironing machine, I provide means for swinging thework-sunports 11 outwardly and upwardly after they leave the unloading position at the ironing machine. Suchineans comprise a suitably supported track 21 arranged adjacent each of the wheels 1. 1, and running upwardly and rearwardly from a point adjacent the urn loading position of the work-supports to a point at the uppermost portion of the'wheels 1, 1, from whence it continues directly meiward on a downward inclination to a loading station. From the loading station the track returns to a point adjacent the wheels 1. {The brackets 13 at the ends'of the worksupports 11 are provided with rollers 22 that run on the track and are engaged thereby when the said work-supports are at the unloading or feedingposition at the ironing eaaeas machine. As soon as; wheels 1, 1, in their rotation carry the unloaded work-support upwardly, rollers 22 on the brackets thereof ride along the track 21. Aportion of the track, indicated at 21, is deflected outwardly from the axis of the wheels, forming a cam, On entering this portion of the track the rollers 22, ridin thereon, swing the worksupports outwardly and upwardly, as shown on the drawing, thus giving full head clearance for the feeders on platform 6. 0n leaving the cam portion 21 of the track, the work supports are turned in reversed position so that the further rotation of the wheels 1 move their pivot studs 10 out of the bracket hooks 1 1, and the work-supports are thereby automatically detached from the wheels and are then supported by the track down the inclined portion of which they roll by gravity to the loading station.

At the loading station a portion of track 21 is pivoted to the main portion 21 and normally spring-sustained, as by spring 21 in full-line position. l/Vhen an empty worksupport reaches this portion of the track it may be held there temporarily if the return portion 21 of the track is occupied. By depressing the hinged portion 21 of the track to broken-line position the work-supports run on to the return portion 21 of the track. From the loading station work supports loaded with work prepared for the ironing machine are returned to the carriermembers. or wheels 1, 1, to. be carried in Y turn to the feeding position at said machine.

The loaded work-supports run by gravity to the carrier wheels down track 21, which. is inclined downwardly toward said wheels. Track 21 thus forms a continuation of track 21, so that the work-supports are loaded with prepared work without removing them from the track in their travel from and return to the carrier wheels. At the, end of the track 21, adjacent, the, wheels, a relatively short section 23 thereof is pivotally jointed to the remainder and may be locked in alinement therewith. Connected to said track section 23, so as to move therewith, is a hand lever 241-, provided with a lock release latch 25, so that by pressing said release and operating the lever, as indicated in the drawing, the end section 23 of the track may be dropped from under theworksupports, leaving the latter suspended by their hooks 14: on studs 10 of the wheels 1, and said wheels 1 free to rotate. The end of track section 23. adjacent the carrier wheels is slightly turned up, as at 26 to form a safety stop to. prevent over-running of the work supports. The endof track section 23 is so arranged with respect to the carrier wheels 1 1, that when said wheels are at rest with a work-support inythe feeding or unloading position at the ironing machine and track section 23v is in alined position, the

hooks 14 of the bracket 13 of a work-support on said track section 23 will come in registry with the supporting studs 10 on the carrier wheels. By this arrangement a loaded work-support traveling down track section 23 will bring up with its hooks 14 engaged over studs 10 on the CdIllGl'JVhGEBlS, so that the work-supports are automatically transferred to and re-engaged with the carrier wheels, whereupon track section 28 may be dropped, as described, leaving the worksuppor't suspended on the carrier wheels and the wheels free to rotate to bring the succeeding work support into the unloading or feeding position and simultaneously move the supporting studs 10 into position to re-- ceive the next loaded worksupport.

Inv some circumstances, as where the ca pacity of the laundry, or of the ironing or similar machine .used is not sufficiently great, or where the work may be so arranged that the rate of preparing the work for the ironing machine may be kept at about the same pace as the rate of feeding it thereto, it may be unnecessary to remove the work-supports from the carrier wheels. In such cases the work-supports may be loaded while supported on the carrier wheels, the arrangement being such that when a work-support is being unloaded at the feed position of the ironing machine, another empty work-support will be in convenient position on the other side ofthe wheels for loading, so that unloading and loading may proceed simultaneously without removing the work-supports from the wheels. Where this method of operation is desired those portions of the track that serve to carry the work-supports away from and back to the wheels maybe omitted or removed, and only the cam portion 21 retained for the purpose of deflecting or swinging the worksupports outwardly and upwardly to give head clearance for the workers occupying platform 6.

In the diagram Fig. 3, taken in connection with Fig. l, I have shown means for automatically starting and stopping the carrierwheels. The motors 15 arev connected in an electrical circuit 31 across the mains M M which circuit includes the branches w, 1 controlled in alternation bya pair of threeway starting and stopping switches, 29, 2.8.- Starting switch 29, is actuated by foot-lever 19, and moved. thereby from contact 29 (where it was left on the preceding actuation of the foot-lever) to contact 29 and stopping switch 28 being on contact 28." (where it was left at the proceding; arrest of the carrier-wheel 1), the circuit from M through 31, motor 15, con tact, 28 branch y, contact 29*, 31, to M is thus closed and the motors energized, rotatingthe carrier-wheels. Rotation of the wheels proceeds until one of the trips 27,

position at the ironing machine. To insure that the detent 18 will be released from the stops 17 when the: starting switchis actuated, I have connected to said detent a solenoid core, the solenoid of which is in branch circuit 32 leading from M to a point in the circuit 31 such that whenthe starting switch 29 closes the motor circuit solenoid 30 will beenergized by current flowing from main M ,-branch 32, solenoid 30, switch 28 and branch w (or y) to M The solenoid will thus be energized, and detent 18 released, simultaneously with the closing of the motor circuit by starting switch 29. It will similarly be deenergized andxdetent 18 returned to lockingposition simultaneously with the actuation of the stopping switch 28.

Itwill be seen that my invention provides means for moving longitudinal work-supports laterally to a working position as rap idly as the capacity and'continuous operation of the working machinery, such as 'ironers, may require and without necessitating that the feeding crew or operatorsmove away from their working positions. Prior to my invention, so far as I am aware, no

means were known orused for accomplish ing this result. Furthermore m inventioneliminates the manual liftingand carryingof the supports loaded with prepared work and the attendant risk of dropping, soiling,

and disarrangementofthe same. My inven tion also enables continuous operation at full capacity of such machines as ironers, in which interrupted orless than full-capacity operation entails considerable loss.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the various parts and mechanism from those herein particularly shown and described without departing from the broad characteristics and principles of my invention.

Claims. 1. Apparatus of the character described comprising an operators working station,

Y longitudinal work-supports, and afcarrier device carrying said work-supp'orts'laterally to and away from-the'working station between thevoperator and his work in a path that clears the operator at said station,

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising longitudinal work supports and a carrier device therefor moving between a loading and an unloading. station for. said supports, -said carrier device moving said supports laterally in a closed loop path that includes within it an operators work po sition.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination with the feeding table of a machine, of a platform for the'machine feeder, supports, for the work to be fed to the machine, and a carrier; device on which said supportsare carried, said carrier device'carryingsaid supports laterally around said'platform and between the same and said feeding table.

4:. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combinationwith the feeding table of a machine,- of a platform for the machine feeder, supports for the work to be fed to said machine, a carrier device on which said supports are'carried, said carrier device carrying said supports laterally around said platform and between the same and said feeding table, and means under control of the feeder on'said platform for starting the carrier device and stopping the same with awork-support in working position at the feeding table. Y

"5'. Apparatus for moving prepared work to the feed position of an ironing machine, said apparatus comprising longitudinal work supports and a carrier for said supports moving between a loading station for said supports and the feed position of the ironing machine, said carrier moving said supports laterally in a path that clears the feed operators at the ironing machine.

6. Apparatus ofthe character described comprisinglongitudinal work supports, a carrier device on which said supports are mounted, said carrier moving said supports laterally between a loading and an unloading station in a path that clears an intervening operators position, and means for arresting the movement of the carrier when the supports are at the loading and unloading stations.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising longitudinal work supports, an

operators platform, a carrier device on' which said supports are mounted, said carrier moving said supports laterally from a loading station in rear of said platform to an unloading station in front of said platform in a path that clears the platform.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising longitudinal work-supports, a carrier for moving said supports laterally between loading and'unloading stations in a path that clears an intervening work position, said work-supports mounted on the carrier at spaced intervals that correspond to the space between the loading and unloading stations, whereby one support is at the loading station when another isat the ion unloading station, and means for arrest-ing the carrier at said stations.

9. Apparatus for delivering prepared work to the vfeed position of an ironing machine, said apparatus comprising longitudinal work-supports, a feeders platform for the ironing machine, and an intermittently moving carrier on which said supports are mounted, said carrier moving said supports laterally downward from their loading station and laterally upward from their feed position and in a path that clears said platrm and ee e s 10. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pairof spaced-apart carriermembers, longitudinal work-supports mounted at their ends-on said carrier members, said carrier-members moving said supports laterally in a loop path that incloses an operators work position.

11. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spaced-apart carriermembers moving between a loading and an unloading station in a loo-p path, workesupports mounted at their ends on said carriers and carried laterally thereby, a work position between said carrier members and inside the path of travel of said supports, and means for intermittently actuating said carrier members.

12. Apparatus of. the character described comprising a pair of spaced-apart carriermembers, an operators platform between said members, longitudinal work-supports having a loading station and an unloading station on opposite sides of said platform, said work-supports mounted at their ends on said carrier-members and moved thereby between said stations in a path clear of said platform and its operators, and means for intermittently actuating said carrier-members in unison.

13. Apparatus of the character described comprising apair of spaced-apart intermittently rotating carrier-members, longitudinal work-supports mounted at their ends on,

said members and moved thereby laterally to and away from an operators work position in a path that clears said work position.

14-. Apparatus for delivering prepared work to the feed position of an ironing machine, said apparatus comprising a feeders platform for said machine, a carrier-member at each end of said platform moving between a work-loading station in rear thereof and the feed position of the ironing mash ne, and en u ne ppor mounted at their ends on said carrier-meme b an a ied thereby bet een a d leadng sta o and f d pos t s a Pa h t clear s pl ter-m an f ede 5- Appar s fer deli eri pr par d ork to e fe d po t on of l iron g 1 aehine, said apparatus comprising a feeders platform for said machine, a pair. of ro-Z tary carrier-members mounted one at each end of said platform, longitudinal work supportsmounted at their ends on said carrier-members and carried thereby laterally in a path that clears said platform, and means for arresting the rotation of the. carrier-members when a work-support comes to the feeding position of the iron ing machine.

i 16. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spaced-apart rotary carnier-members, an operators work position between said members, longitudinal work-supports mounted at their ends on said members and carried thereby laterally in a curved path about said work position, means for deflecting said work-supports during a portion of their travel, and means for actuating said carrier-members in unison.

17. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair ofv spaced-apart. rotary carrier-members moving between work-load ing and unloading stations, an operators work position between said carrier-members and loading and unloading stations, said carrier-members moving in a curved path downwardly from the loading station and upwardly from the unloading station, a plurality of longitudinal workesupports mounted at their ends on said carrier members, and means for intermittently rotating said carrier members in unison,

18. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spaced-apartrotary carrier-members, an operators platform around which said carrier-members travel, longitudinalwork supports pivotally mount ed at their ends on said members and carried thereby laterally in a path that. clears said platform, and means for swinging said supports on their pivots during a portion of their travel to enlarge their path of clearance.

19. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a pair of spaced-apart rotary carrier members, work-supports carried by said carrier-members, an operators platform around which said worlcsupports travel, means for automatically detaching unloaded work-supports from the carrier-members, and means for automatically attaching loaded work-supports to'said carrier-members to replace the detached unloaded work-supports. V I

20. Apparatus of the character described pr s a p f er sed-trait int t t y tin terri r-m mber 19 a tudinal workrsupp orts mounted at their ends on said members, means for autpinatically detaching unloaded Work-supports from said members, and means for automatilcally attaching loaded work-supports to predetermined point in their path of travel,

means for removing the detached worksupports from the wheels, means for returning said work supports to said wheels at another predetermined point in the rotation of the wheels, and means for automatically attaching said work-supports to said wheels on their return thereto.

22. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination of a carrier, supports for the material to be carried thereby, means on said supports for pivotally engaging and attaching the same to said carrier, a trackadjacentthe carrier, a portion of said track forming a cam, and rollers on said supports arranged to co-operate with said cam 'to swing thesupports about their pivots to a detaching position.

23. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination of an voperators platform, a carrier for carrying material to the operator on, said platform, supports for the material carried 'detachably engaged to the carrier, and means automatically operated aftera support has been carried past the'operator for detaching the same from the carrier.

24 Apparatus of the character describedv comprising the combination of an operators platform, a carrier for carrying material to the operator on said platform, means under control of the operator for starting and stop ping the carrier, supports for the material carried detachably engaging the carrier, and means automaticaly operated after asuport has been carried past the operator for etaching the same from the carrier.

25. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination of an operators platform, a carrier for carrying material to the operator in a path that clears said platform and the operator thereon, supports for the material carried detachably engaging the-carrier, and meansautomatically operated after a support has been carried past the operator for detaching the supports from the carrier.

. 26. Apparatus of the character described comprising the combination of a carrier,

work-supports having hook members detachably engaging the same to the carrier,

rollers on said Work-supports, a track adjacent the carrier and having a; portion thereof in the path of said rollers, said track portion being cam-shaped to move said work-supports into position for detaching their hook-members, and another portion of said track inclined downwardly away from the carrier whereby the continued movement of the carrier detaches the same from the work-supports leaving the latter supported on their rollers on said track portion and free to travel along the same away from the carrier. 27 Apparatus of the character describe spaced apart carrier-wheels, means for intermittently rotating said wheels in unison, a

plurality of work-supports, means onsaid '75 comprising a pair of' axially alined and track, and means for transferring saidsupports from said track and attaehingthem to the carrier-wheels. I

28. Apparatus of the character described comprising a carrier, work-supports having means; thereon for detachably engagingsal'd carrier, rollers on said work-supports, means co-operating with the carrier fora-utom'atically delivering the work supports to and detaching the same from the carrier, said means comprising a track-adapted to be engaged by the rollers ofthe work-supports, one portion of said track being cam-shaped and in the pathfof the rollers of the work supports carried bythe carrier to move said supports to detaching position, another portion of said track inclined away from the carrier, another portion of said track in 1 clined toward the carrier, a flexibly mounted track section'between said inclined portions,

and manually controlled means on the track portion' inclined toward the carrier, for

transferring the work-supports thereon from I said track portion to the carrier.

29. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spacedapart and axially linedcarrienwheels, a fixedoperators working platform supported between said wheels,

means on each of said wheels for engaging and supporting between them work-supports to be carried by said wheels, means for rotating said wheels in unison, and means for simultaneously arresting said carrier wheels when a. work=support thereon arrives at the working position of an operator on said working platform;

3O. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spaced-apartcarrierwheels, said wheels. mountedin axial alinement, means on each of said wheels for engaging and supporting between them worksupports to be carriedby saidxwheels, an

operators Working plat-form supported be tween said Wheels and Within the path of movement of said Work-supports carried by the Wheels, a loading station for loading said work-supports on to said Wheels, said loading station being outside the path of movement of said Wheels, means for rotating said Wheels in unison, and means for simultaneously arresting said Wheels when a Worksupport thereon is at the Working position of an operator on said platform and with the said supporting means is at the loading station.

CHAMPLAIN L. RILEY. 

